Archbishop
Holy Martyr Alexios (born Pyotr Filippovich Belkovsky) was born in 1842 in the village of Rozhdestino, in the Tula Province of Russia. He was the son of Father Filipp Belkovsky, a parish priest who faithfully served his community for more than forty years. From an early age, Pyotr was raised in a spirit of humility and deep devotion to God. In 1864 he graduated from the Tula Theological Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood in 1867. Throughout his ministry, he served in several churches, including the Church of the Archangel Michael and the Church of Saint Alexander Nevsky in Tula.
Saint Alexios was deeply committed to the pastoral care. He established the parish school and devoted particular attention to the welfare of children, especially during the famine of 1891. In 1898, he was appointed abbot of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. Later he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.
In 1904, he was consecrated Bishop of Veliky Ustyug. As bishop, he worked tirelessly for the spiritual growth of his flock, overseeing the construction of churches and the establishment of libraries. In the early 1920s, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.
Archbishop Alexios retired from his active episcopal administration in 1924, yet he continued to serve the Church faithfully until his arrest in 1937, at the age of ninety-five. He died in prison in November 1937. His holy relics were later recovered and transferred to the Stefanovo Cemetery.
